KHRC slams police boss Kanja over harassment claims against human rights watch Director Otsieno Namwaya

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has sharply criticized Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja following reports of alleged harassment of human rights activist Otsieno Namwaya by officers under his command.

In a statement issued on Saturday, KHRC accused the police of intimidating Namwaya, who serves as Associate Africa Director at Human Rights Watch. The lobby group said a contingent of officers allegedly raided his home between August 23 and 25 and placed him under surveillance.

According to KHRC, the operation followed weeks of attempts by individuals suspected to be linked to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to access Namwaya secretly. Reports further indicated that officers attached to the DCI’s Operation Support Unit began tracing Namwaya several months ago through his associates.

Condemning the incident, KHRC demanded that Inspector General Kanja immediately halt all forms of harassment, surveillance, and intimidation against Namwaya.

“KHRC condemns in the strongest terms the surveillance and harassment of Otsieno Namwaya, Associate Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, by officers of the Kenya Police Service,” the statement read.

The organization warned that such actions not only undermine the Constitution but also signal attempts to silence critics exposing state abuses.

“This brazen act of intimidation against a human rights defender is an assault on Kenya’s Constitution and a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices exposing state abuses,” KHRC added.

The watchdog also urged President William Ruto’s administration to guarantee the safety of all human rights defenders, warning that persecuting activists only deepens Kenya’s crisis of impunity.

Namwaya, who has served at Human Rights Watch for over 13 years, has documented numerous cases of police brutality and other abuses by security forces in Kenya.